ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

Jesus is the Son of God. He is coequal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He was raised from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will return someday for the final judgment and to take all believers to eternity.

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides believers with power for living, understanding spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts when they are saved. As Christians, we seek to live under his daily control.

ABOUT HUMANS AND SIN

People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Every person is conceived and born with the spiritual condition called original sin. Our disobedience toward God, our sin, is what separates us from God and causes many of life’s problems. Our sin is why we need forgiveness.

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-9; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2

ABOUT SALVATION

Salvation is God’s free gift to us in Jesus Christ. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s substitute can we be saved from sin’s penalty. We trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection as the act of salvation that offers the forgiveness of our sins and our adoption into God’s family.

ABOUT ETERNITY

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.

STATEMENT OF BELIEF

ABOUT THE CHURCH

The church is the body of Christ, all those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Though there are many individual congregations in many different denominations, all those who believe that they are sinners and that they are forgiven in Jesus Christ have been made part of the “fellowship of saints” by the working of the Holy Spirit. Wherever the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached, the church grows.

ABOUT BAPTISM

Baptism is the entrance into Christ’s body, the church. Through the promise of God’s Word connected with the washing of Baptism, we receive forgiveness of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and are adopted into Christ’s family. All those who believe that they are sinners and in need of Christ’s forgiveness should be baptized. Baptism is not an entrance into a particular congregation nor is it something that we do, but it is the working of God’s Holy Spirit to bring lambs into the Shepherd’s flock.

ABOUT HOLY COMMUNION

We believe that in Holy Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper), Jesus Christ is truly present for those who believe in Him and that we receive with the bread and wine, the body and blood of the Lord. In this receiving by faith, Christ works forgiveness of sins, strengthens us in our walk with Him, delivers us from temptation, and grants us eternal life. It is not the bread and wine that does this, but the faith in Christ’s promise that He is present for us in this Sacrament.

Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19,20, 1 Cor. 11:23-29

ABOUT CONFESSION OF SINS

We believe that Christ has called Christians to both repent of their sins and to receive the forgiveness of Christ from one another. This is not a coerced institution, but a privilege for troubled souls to be assured of God’s mercy and for Christian brothers and sisters to be reconciled with one another. All Christians are called to perform this function but the church especially calls its leaders to both model and encourage other Christians to do this.

OUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

What We Practice

:¨ Reach out to seekers and those who are lost with the saving and healing Gospel of Christ, that they might come to a personal growing relationship with the Lord Jesus.

¨ Reach in to the already convinced and saved with the saving and healing gospel of Christ, that they might be encouraged in their personal relationship with the Lord and be equipped for a life of discipleship and witnessing for Christ Jesus.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:18-20

WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

¨ Solid Biblical preaching and teaching that is not only true to the Word of God but also relevant and full of practical application of the Word for living in today’s world.

Matthew 10:7; Mark 16:15; Acts 5:20; Ephesians 4:2-5

¨ Different styles of relevant, meaningful, friendly, praise-giving worship of the Lord Jesus that equip and encourage the convinced and which is also seeker sensitive or seeker targeted.

John 4:23, 24; Ephesians 5:19, 20

¨ Ongoing Bible study in small and large groups as well as different types of studies for all age groups.

Colossians 2:6,7; 2 Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 6:1; 1 Peter 2:2

¨ An authentic ministry of prayer for the worshipping community and for the encouragement of all individuals in an ongoing commitment to a life of prayer.

Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18

¨ A well-rounded approach to evangelism that includes evangelistic programs and processes with a focus on friendship evangelism and testimonial evangelism.

Acts 1:8; Philemon 6; Acts 2:47

¨ An emphasis on world missions by direct prayer and financial support to missionaries as well as off-site mission trips for those led to help.

Psalm 96:3; Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15

¨ Using spiritual gifts for the good of the Body of Christ.

Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11-13, 16

¨ Providing Christian support and care in groups and to individuals who need support, Christian love and care.